Kennebec Behavioral Health cited

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CARF International announced that Kennebec Behavioral Health has been accredited for a period of three years for all of its programs and services including the agency’s newest service – Behavioral Health Homes. The latest accreditation is the fifth consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has awarded to Kennebec Behavioral Health.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.

“We are extremely pleased with our survey results,” said Thomas J. McAdam, chief executive officer of Kennebec Behavioral Health. “It is an indication of our commitment to excellence in all areas of KBH, including care delivery, operations and finance.”

Kennebec Behavioral Health is a non-profit health-care organization that has provided mental health and substance abuse services and supports in central Maine since 1960. KBH operates clinics in Waterville, Skowhegan, Winthrop and Augusta and has three vocational clubhouses located in Waterville, Augusta and Lewiston. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for any KBH service, call 1-888-322-2136. Information can also be found at www.kbhmaine.org.

Hockey team helps food pantry

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The Winslow High School varsity boys hockey team gathered on November 20 and participated in their annual food drive to help support the St. John Food Pantry. This has become an annual tradition for the team. Five crates of nonperishable foods and countless bags of bottles and cans were donated by local residents.

From left to right Colby Nadeau, Garrett Pooler, Dimitrios Bailis, Shawn Rooney, Thomas Tibbets, Ben Grenier, Kyle Gurney, Logan Denis, Cody Ivey, Austin Soucy, Jake Soucy and Nick West. Absent from photo are Tyler Martin and Jared Lambert.

Photo submitted by Mark Huard

Christmas vacation activities released for China School’s Forest

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All programs will begin at the China Primary School bus circle. Programs will be outside. Come dressed for the weather.

All activities are free, but donations for future programming will be accepted. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

FMI, contact Anita Smith at chinaschoolsforest@gmail.com or message us on the China School’s Forest – China, Maine facebook page. In the event of snow, announcements will be made on the school forest facebook page or you may call 986-2255.

Thursday, Dec 29: New Moon Hike and Star Gazing Family Activity 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Come for a fun evening of star gazing, making night animal sounds, and maybe even a round of flashlight tag in the forest.

Friday, Dec 30: Bird Feeders 1 – 3 p.m. They will create a variety of bird feeders, popcorn garlands and other fun treats for our feathered friends and then hang them outside in the forest as we take a walk in the woods. On the walk, they will do some animal tracking if there is snow.

Saturday, Dec 31: Family Scavenger Hunt 1 – 3 p.m. Join them on a family scavenger hunt for various objects in the school forest. They will provide a list of items and a map of the forest. Families will search for the items and then join together at the CPS Pavilion for sharing discoveries and prizes.

Girl Scouts bake pies for dinner

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The Arnold Trail Girl Scouts gathered on November 22 to  bake 188 pies for the Messalonskee High School Thanksgiving dinner.  The troop donated all the supplies to make the pies. Approximately 1,000 people attended the dinner. The following troops were represented: #1783 Belgrade, #2204 China, #9, #15 and #906 Oakland, #375, #376, #1523, #1776 and #1785 Sidney, #2044 Vassalboro, and #1254 and #1557 Waterville.

Contributed photo

Vassalboro News: Planners approve two of three applications

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Planning Board members approved two of the three permit applications on their Dec. 6 agenda.

By unanimous votes, they issued site review permits to:

  • Leo Barnett for an indoor growing facility for medical marijuana in a building to be put up on Old Meadow Road off Riverside Drive; and
  • Daniel Charest for three additions for commercial storage on his multi-use building at 8 Cushnoc Road.

The board was unable to grant an after-the-fact permit for Brenda Pinkham’s deck on her camp at 119 Pleasant Point Road, because the building is already closer to the high-water mark than allowed and, board Chairman Virginia Brackett said, expansion toward the water is therefore prohibited. Board members agreed that a stairway no more than four feet wide can be built to allow water access, with a permit from the codes officer. They let remain the roof on a side deck, also added without a permit, with the condition that the deck is not to be enclosed.

Barnett’s application generated discussion about whether it was for the building only or for the business for which the building is designed. By the end of the discussion, Brackett and fellow board member Douglas Phillips, who have both been on the board for many years, told Barnett the permit covered the proposed business.

Neighbors again attended the meeting to voice concerns about possible effects. Board members found Barnett’s project meets all criteria in Vassalboro’s ordinance. For both Barnett and Charest, the board required a fence around any dumpster on the property, in an effort to keep children from getting hurt.

Letters to the editor, Week of December 15, 2016

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Coal for Christmas to driver

To the editor:

To the person who hit the dog and didn’t stop on Rt 32, in Jefferson, on Sunday morning (12/11) at 7 a.m…I will call you a coward because the paper will not let me print what I would really like to call you and what I am sure other pet lovers and fur baby parents reading this will be thinking.

This fur baby you hit, a Rottweiler, a puppy, “Baby” was new to the family having just filled the void of a recently passed fur baby from cancer “Bota.” She was a lap dog, “Roy’s” playmate, loved to go camping, rides, and cruise on the golf cart.

You left her people, kids, grandkids, devastated at this holiday season.

No, she shouldn’t have been in the road, but you didn’t need to be so heartless as to not stop and offer your condolences, it wasn’t a squirrel, turkey or a cat for that matter. Someone reading might say maybe you didn’t know you hit something, well the pieces of your car left in the road beg to differ.

I hope Santa leaves you COAL for Christmas. PS: if you want your car parts, stop and get them. Trash is Wednesday.

Kathy McDaniel
Jefferson

China News: Police report: traffic on Main St. too fast

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by Mary Grow

China Village residents told selectmen last summer that traffic on Main Street and Causeway Road is too fast. Technology has backed them up.

Two of China’s five local police officers, all of whom are also Oakland policemen, reported to China selectmen on Dec. 12 about police activities since August. Traffic control is one of the major issues they deal with. In his written report, Sergeant Tracey Frost said they used grant money to buy a Blackcat radar system which they deployed inconspicuously on Main Street, Dirigo Road and Jones Road, three places where residents complained of speeders.

An attached report from Sergeant Jerry Haynes, who analyzed the radar reports, said that Jones Road and Dirigo Road have some fast traffic, but not enough to warrant a major enforcement effort. On Main Street, however, almost 21 percent of drivers exceeded the enforcement limit of 35 miles an hour, which is 10 miles above the posted speed limit.
Main Street, Frost wrote, “has the highest level of traffic violations we have ever recorded.”

He recommended that patrols continue and that in the spring selectmen consider other traffic-calming measures. “The concerns of local residents are certainly justified,” he added.

Besides the 25 mile an hour limit on Main Street and intersecting Causeway Road, additional signs warn drivers to watch out for a blind pedestrian, children playing and pets.

Frost’s report listed other activities in which the five officers have engaged this fall, and offered residents his personal email address to which to send law-enforcement concerns: chinamainepolice@gmail.com. In other business at the Dec. 12 meeting, selectmen accepted the resignation of Fred Montgomery as an alternate member of the planning board. Tom Michaud said Neck Road residents had asked him to apply for the seat; selectmen decided to follow their usual procedure of advertising the vacancy. They are also looking for more members for the ad hoc committee on China for a Lifetime, which will investigate ways to make the town more user-friendly, especially but not exclusively for senior citizens. The committee currently consists of Michaud, Selectmen Joann Austin and Irene Belanger, Sandra Kostron, Helen Roy and Toni Wall.

Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux reported that acquisition of the Wachusetts property on Lakeview Drive, given to the town and accepted by voters on Nov. 8, is complete. He is still working toward acquiring the two properties voters agreed to buy, one adjoining the town office and the other at the head of China Lake.

Selectmen considered proposing local measures to prepare for the state-wide legalization of recreational marijuana. They decided the March town meeting will be an appropriate time for any action they choose to recommend.

Other area town officials are exploring ordinances to ban recreational marijuana or to establish a moratorium to give them time to create appropriate local regulations.

Board Chairman Neil Farrington reported that he and Selectman Ron Breton met with Palermo selectmen to work out final details of Palermo residents’ use of China’s transfer station, scheduled to begin with the new year.

Farrington also issued a reminder that the new transfer station days are now in effect: the facility is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and no longer open on Wednesday.

The next regular China selectmen’s meeting has been rescheduled from Monday evening, Dec. 26, to 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, in the town office meeting room.

China News: Planners approve marijuana growing facility

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by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members have approved Nathan White’s application to grow marijuana for medical purposes in a former store at 306 Route 3, after a short Dec. 13 public hearing that allowed interested residents to ask questions and comment on the proposal.

In response to questions, White said he is allowed only one employee, who will be hired later. He plans no changes to the exterior of the building; there will be no public access or traffic and no odors, noise, waste or other potentially harmful or annoying effects. Security measures will include the watchfulness of the neighbor in the adjacent house, cameras and door sensors.

Planning Board Chairman James Wilkens said board members have reviewed state regulations for licensed medical marijuana caregivers, which govern White’s project. White’s father, Carrol White, said a few years ago he would not have favored his son growing medical marijuana, but having seen how its use helps patients get off other medication, he is now a supporter. One of Nathan White’s patients agreed and praised White specifically for researching individual needs and providing the types of marijuana most helpful in improving his clients’ lives.

The four planning board members at the Dec. 13 meeting voted unanimously that the project met all criteria in China’s ordinance and granted the permit.

After the application review, board members talked about how to improve their process. They decided to reinstate the visioning sessions they used to hold every year or so, at which they reviewed members’ interests and areas of expertise, board goals and procedures and the need – or not – to recommend changes in town ordinances.

A visioning session is likely to be scheduled in January 2017. The next board meeting is set for Tuesday evening, Dec. 27.

Hats for the homeless

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Clinton Elementary School’s Student Council recently led the school in a “Hats for the Homeless” drive. Students and staff had the opportunity all week to donate and in turn on Friday they could wear a hat in school for the day. Approximately 200 hats and $293 was collected and brought to the Mid Maine Homeless Shelter on December 6.

Student Council members, front, from left to right, Cylie Henderson, Kyra Henry, Hailey Bowley, Kylie Delile and Max Begin. Back, Makenzie Nadeau, Cameron Stewart, Lucas Campbell and Matthew Stubenrod.

Contributed photo

10th annual veterans dinner held at South China Legion hall

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee, managing editor

On November 9, the South China, Boynton-Webber American Legion Post #179 and Auxiliary hosted the 10th annual veterans dinner, sponsored by Fieldstone Quick Stop, Erskine Academy students and the Maine Veterans Home, at Togus.page1pict1

Neil Farrington, commander of the South China post, was instrumental in getting the most veterans that have ever attended the event. Over 130 local veterans, and many that were bused from the veterans home, were guests at the annual dinner.

Thadius Barber, owner of Fieldstone Quickstop, in South China, provided all the food, with the legion auxiliary providing coffee and many different, delicious desserts.

Also, 15 students from Erskine Academy’s Jobs for Maine Graduates program assisted at the dinner, waiting on tables, serving the coffee and dessert, and then assisted the veterans to their buses and cars.

The dinner, to honor local veterans, was the brain child of the late Martha Brann, who approached Barber 10 years ago when he owned Tobey’s Grocery, in South China. “Martha approached me to ask if I would support veterans at the South China Legion,” Barber recalls. “I didn’t need any time to think about it. I said yes.”

Brann followed through and continued with the annual project. “She had spunk,” Barber added, “You’d never know she was in her 80s. She loved to help people.”

Erskine Academy Jobs for Maine Graduates students and members of the Boynton-Webber American Legion Auxiliary assisted during the 10th annual veterans dinner held on November 9. Contributed photos

Erskine Academy Jobs for Maine Graduates students and members of the Boynton-Webber American Legion Auxiliary assisted during the 10th annual veterans dinner held on November 9.
Contributed photos

Hitting it off immediately, Barber arranged a dinner date for Martha with his widower grandfather, Lee Babb, a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Spadefish submarine, at Pearl Harbor. Babb attended all the dinners until his passing seven years ago.

When Brann passed away this year, her daughter Dawn Spoden and her daughter stepped up to continue the traditional dinner. The dinner is held annually the day following election day in November.